Posts Tagged ‘valve’

Steam launches in-game Prima strategy guides

May 21st, 2010
You're likely accustomed to hearing a certain pitch when purchasing a game at GameStop. It goes like this: "Would you like to buy the strategy guide for this too?" And, of course, you have your canned response. Something like, "The answer is still no -- just like last week and the week before that, and every other time I've been in this stinking store, Mike." Or perhaps just, "No, thank you."

Now, thanks to the wonders of the internet, you can play out this same dramatic non-transaction online. Valve has announced that digital versions of Prima strategy guides are now being sold through Steam. Readable inside or outside of the games, the guides include the expected tips and tricks. Unlike their printed counterparts, they also include videos.

To celebrate the launch of Prima guides on Steam, the first set -- including Splinter Cell Coviction, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, Left 4 Dead 2, Just Cause 2, Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age: Awakening -- can be purchased for $10 per guide, 50 percent off the normal $20 price.

In other news, we'd like to announce the continued existence of one digital strategy guide search engine. This innovative service lets users search for almost any game ever created and includes guides, videos and even historical information. The best part: It's absolutely free. Just follow this link and start searching!

JoystiqSteam launches in-game Prima strategy guides originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 22 May 2010 01:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steam launches in-game Prima strategy guides

May 21st, 2010
You're likely accustomed to hearing a certain pitch when purchasing a game at GameStop. It goes like this: "Would you like to buy the strategy guide for this too?" And, of course, you have your canned response. Something like, "The answer is still no -- just like last week and the week before that, and every other time I've been in this stinking store, Mike." Or perhaps just, "No, thank you."

Now, thanks to the wonders of the internet, you can play out this same dramatic non-transaction online. Valve has announced that digital versions of Prima strategy guides are now being sold through Steam. Readable inside or outside of the games, the guides include the expected tips and tricks. Unlike their printed counterparts, they also include videos.

To celebrate the launch of Prima guides on Steam, the first set -- including Splinter Cell Coviction, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, Left 4 Dead 2, Just Cause 2, Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age: Awakening -- can be purchased for $10 per guide, 50 percent off the normal $20 price.

In other news, we'd like to announce the continued existence of one digital strategy guide search engine. This innovative service lets users search for almost any game ever created and includes guides, videos and even historical information. The best part: It's absolutely free. Just follow this link and start searching!

JoystiqSteam launches in-game Prima strategy guides originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 22 May 2010 01:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Latest L4D2 mutation is for gnome lovers

May 14th, 2010
Valve has announced the latest mutation game mode in Left 4 Dead 2: Last Gnome on Earth. In order to win, the survivors simply have to carry the garden gnome through any of the single-player campaigns. There's a catch though: the Infected will immediately swarm on anyone carrying the gnome. Valve also warns players to be careful setting the gnome down as "a boomer explosion will send him flying." The mutation is only available in campaign mode.

Valve also added that Realism Vs mode, as promised, will become permanent starting next week for everyone that owns "The Passing" DLC. Furthermore, one of the mutations released so far will make a comeback next week, with Valve noting that the mutation will be voted in by players. The candidates include Follow the Liter, Bleed Out and this week's mutation, Last Gnome on Earth. Finally, Valve will be playing Left 4 Dead 2 with the community this weekend. Check out a list of Steam and Xbox Live gamertags the team will be using after the break.

Continue reading Latest L4D2 mutation is for gnome lovers

JoystiqLatest L4D2 mutation is for gnome lovers originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 May 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Latest L4D2 mutation is for gnome lovers

May 14th, 2010
Valve has announced the latest mutation game mode in Left 4 Dead 2: Last Gnome on Earth. In order to win, the survivors simply have to carry the garden gnome through any of the single-player campaigns. There's a catch though: the Infected will immediately swarm on anyone carrying the gnome. Valve also warns players to be careful setting the gnome down as "a boomer explosion will send him flying." The mutation is only available in campaign mode.

Valve also added that Realism Vs mode, as promised, will become permanent starting next week for everyone that owns "The Passing" DLC. Furthermore, one of the mutations released so far will make a comeback next week, with Valve noting that the mutation will be voted in by players. The candidates include Follow the Liter, Bleed Out and this week's mutation, Last Gnome on Earth. Finally, Valve will be playing Left 4 Dead 2 with the community this weekend. Check out a list of Steam and Xbox Live gamertags the team will be using after the break.

Continue reading Latest L4D2 mutation is for gnome lovers

JoystiqLatest L4D2 mutation is for gnome lovers originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 May 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Left 4 Dead 2 is half-off on Steam through Thursday

March 23rd, 2010
Valve's at it again with another midweek sale, this time carefully trimming 50 percent off the price of its latest, Left 4 Dead 2. This brings the game down to the very decent price of $25, until Thursday, March 25 at 4pm PDT -- leaving you ample dollars and cents to stock up on additional ammo for the real zombie apocalypse that will no doubt one day happen. Seriously, it's gonna happen.

But, we digress. If digital distribution isn't your thing, L4D2 is also on sale on Amazon today, allowing you to get a physical copy of the game on either the Xbox 360 or PC for the same price. For once, beggars can be choosers!

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

JoystiqLeft 4 Dead 2 is half-off on Steam through Thursday originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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‘Left 4 Dead’ DLC Spoilers Bring Out The Dead

March 22nd, 2010

Left 4 Dead 2

On the non-spoilery side of some new "Left 4 Dead" reveals, the upcoming "Left 4 Dead 2" DLC episode "Nobody Survives Forever" will directly relate to some upcoming "L4D1" DLC, and a comic book with bridge both stories. On the significantly more spoilery side of "NSF," however, you'll have to click on past the jump where I've placed the rest of the info, just in case some readers don't want to know about it.

"You'll run into 'Left 4 Dead 1' characters after they've just had this happen," Valve writer Chet Faliszek told GameTrailers TV. "After this we'll release 'Left 4 Dead 1' DLC, in which one of you will have to do what happens, and one of you will die."

Faliszek didn't name the fated party member, but he did say that the story between the unreleased DLC releases will be laid out in comic book form -- though it won't factor in choices and alternatives that show up in-game.

"And we'll actually have a comic book coming out between the two," he said. "It explains the idealized version of how it works out."

It sounds like you may have be able to choose who bites the bullet in the end, but should you choose to by the DLC, you'll be able to find out for yourself.

Do you like the linked DLC strategy for "L4D2" and "L4D1" that Valve is planning? Would you rather they stuck to 2? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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Why Valve Took a Leak(er) Out of Left 4 Dead 2 [Left 4 Dead 2]

January 13th, 2010

Speaking to Official Xbox Magazine, Valve's Chet Faliszek said the Left 4 Dead 2 team came up with a since-discarded special infected called "The Leaker." He was axed not for doing something disgusting, but predictable.

"With The Leaker, the idea was a kind of Boomer that could take damage, and shoot out spouts of goo. And you could plant yourself and explode - be this walking bomb," Faliszek told OXM. "The problem is there's a warning that you're going to do that. So when you go to plant yourself, everyone else runs away, and you just die and don't hurt anybody."

So they scotched The Leaker, but carried over some of his properties to The Spitter, Faliszek said. Oh, and about that inspired name (and others)? It's "because I'm lazy," Faliszek said. "'What does this one do?' 'It charges.' 'Yeah, it's a Charger. I'll go with that.'"

Interview with Valve's Chet Faliszek
[Official Xbox Magazine]



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Left 4 Dead 2 goes free-to-play on Xbox Live next weekend

January 10th, 2010
If you've been sitting around on your hands waiting for the next free opportunity to play Left 4 Dead 2 on Xbox Live with your friends, well, we think you're a bit strange and should likely find a better habit. That being said, you'll be happy to hear that the game will be free-to-play for all Xbox Live members (even you lower class Silver folks) next weekend, starting promptly at 12:00PM ET on Friday, January 15, and finishing up on Monday the 18th (also at noon, as confirmed to CVG by Microsoft). We can't imagine that those of you still holding out will be convinced of an Xbox Live Gold account's worth after just one weekend, but it certainly can't hurt, now can it?

Update: The free weekend has been confirmed for Europe only. A Microsoft representative tells Joystiq the company has "nothing to announce at this time" about a North American promotion. When asked if they had a timetable to announce something, the representative politely said that we'll hear something soon one way or another.

Gallery: Left 4 Dead 2

JoystiqLeft 4 Dead 2 goes free-to-play on Xbox Live next weekend originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 10 Jan 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Left 4 Dead 2 PC Patched Up Real Good, Xbox 360 Update “Later This Month” [Valve]

December 10th, 2009

Valve has put forth a new update for the PC version of Left 4 Dead 2, fixing up a long list of outstanding bugs, tweaking gameplay and much much more. Expect the same fixes "later this month," Xbox 360 players.

Most of the changes appear to be relatively small, somewhat reducing the effectiveness of the Spitter in some circumstances, but not by much. A less specific updating of Special Infected hit boxes is also included, but how they were updated, we're not yet sure.

Update: Yes, we are sure. This Steam forum thread illustrates the differences between the old and new hit boxes for the Charger, Jockey and Spitter.

Here's the full list of changes.

  • Changed rules for ghost placement in Scavenge Mode
  • Player controlled Special Infected are no longer forced to un-crouch and lock strafe when they crouch attack
  • Spitter spit that damages players on a moving elevator will now fizzle quickly
  • Allow the survivor and infected to rotate the camera yaw while being attacked by a Charger or Smoker
  • Smoker that has dragged a survivor to the end now gets the same cinematic flashlight as the Hunter and Charger
  • Fixed a crash in physics
  • Updated the Charger's hit boxes
  • Updated the Jockey's hit boxes
  • Updated the Spitter's hit boxes
  • Fixed player health on being revived after a Charger slam over a high ledge
  • Fixed versus scores not resetting after a vote to change campaigns
  • Fixed being able to use defibrillator on dead players who were far above or below you
  • Fixed pink glow on dead survivors
  • Fixed being able to hold crouch while incapped to get better weapon accuracy
  • Fixed players pushing against some props causing them to accumulate downward velocity and then take falling damage when they let go of the forward key
  • Fixed a case where an incapped survivor inside a rescue vehicle would trigger both the escape sequence and a round restart
  • Fixed the helping hand from getting stuck when extended


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Mod adds Travis Touchdown to Team Fortress 2, Left 4 Dead

December 7th, 2009

No More Heroes' girl-crazy otaku protagonist, Travis Touchdown, must have found the Cosmic Key, because he's crossed over into the world of Valve games -- specifically Left 4 Dead and Team Fortress 2.

The L4D mod uses Travis to meet the game's quota for one leather-clad survivor, putting him, in his usual red jacket and Pure White Lover Bizarre Jelly T-shirt (but no beam katana), in the place of ultra-pessimist Francis. While an L4D2 mod could address the lack of stabbing and cutting, it would seem mod creator ash_link isn't a fan of Valve's sequel, so, yeah ... that's probably not happening.

The Team Fortress 2 mod does about the same thing, replacing that game's Scout with a pint-sized, katana-wielding Touchdown. Head past the break to see for yourself. Seriously, go watch the video now.

[Via Destructoid]

Continue reading Mod adds Travis Touchdown to Team Fortress 2, Left 4 Dead

JoystiqMod adds Travis Touchdown to Team Fortress 2, Left 4 Dead originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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